Iran Claims to Have Shot Down U.S. JASSM Cruise Missile Over Central Province

Iranian officials and state-affiliated media reported that air defense systems intercepted a U.S. AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) over Markazi Province in central Iran.

The claim includes assertions that debris from the long-range, stealthy cruise missile was recovered, presented as evidence of the effectiveness of Iran’s layered air defenses, including systems like the AD-08 Majid. Iranian sources described the incident as proof that key defensive capabilities remain functional despite ongoing U.S. and Israeli airstrikes targeting radars, launchers, and missile infrastructure.

U.S. military officials have not commented on the specific allegation, and no independent confirmation of the interception or debris has been reported from Western or neutral sources. The U.S. has emphasized the use of standoff weapons like the JASSM, launched from platforms such as B-52 bombers outside Iranian airspace, to degrade Iranian ballistic missile and air defense networks, with statements indicating significant reductions in Iran’s missile launch activity.